Coachella 2008

The Swell Season

You're probably wondering where I've been. Well, last Friday I hopped on a plane to Palm Springs and ended up in Indio, Ca. for the Coachella music festival. I would have had this post up faster but I returned home to a computer full of viruses (damn torrents).
I really didn't want to go to Coachella, but I was somewhat forced because of the prize I won fron 101X. It was already paid for and I could not send someone else in my place. If I didn't go, I would still take the tax hit at the end of the year. So, I went.

Day 1 went something like this:
Showed up around 5:30 and saw the last couple songs by The Breeders. Then watched Tegan and Sara. I saw the Raconteurs for a couple songs before I decided I would have a better time walking around looking at people. I then went to check out The Swell Season, which was probably the best, most surprising act at the festival. Walked back to the main stage and sat down. Some guy asked me if I would sit at the corner of their blanket because a girl was lying down and was scared someone would step on her head. I hung out with them for The Verve and Jack Johnson. We left about 11:30 and then sat in the parking lot for two hours trying to leave.

Day 2:
We were a little more prepared for day two. I bought some ear plugs and some Miller Lite tall boys to drink in the parking lot. I showed up at 4:50 to catch Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks. Then watched a few songs by Dwight Yoakam before heading over to watch Death Cab for Cutie, then Rilo Kiley then Portishead. We left early on Saturday to make sure we didn't have the same parking lot problem.

Day 3:
Stars ->Gogol Bordello -> My Morning Jacket -> Sons & Daughters -> Roger Waters - > Justice.

There were a couple of other bands on the smaller stages I would have liked to see, but I didn't want to show up in the heat of the day. I'd rather hang out at the hotel swimming pool.

p.s. That's a picture of the Swell Season BTW. To see more pictures check out my flickr.

Hugs not drugs

Story

Ok, so this has absolutely nothing to do about Northwest Austin, but I've about decided not much goes on in our parts, (which can be a good and bad thing) so I've decided to branch out and cover some more areas, especially when good stories pop up. No pun intended.

So what's up with this? Was it a male or female teacher? Did it involve an unwanted booty grab? a boner? hair sniff? neck kiss? hip thrust? ear lick? quiver?

Inquiring minds want to know.

I wish I could retroactively get some of my teachers fired for getting into my space.

Real Emotional Trash

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks [6]
Originally uploaded by ted rogers

When Stephen Malkmus made a Myspace page and had to put band influences he wrote "Stephen Malkmus." The guy invented indie rock. And you can quote me on that and use it in your MA dissertation.

So I checked out Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks last night at La Zona Rosa. This is probably the only show I've seen lately that I would have actually paid to go to. Unfortunately, none of my friends know of SM. The show would have been perfect if it weren't for whoever let out two nasty farts during the show and if he would have played at least one Pavement song. I heard he's been doing that, even though when they broke up he said he never would.

His latest album, "Real Emotional Trash" is a treat. I can hear hints of old songs,but I can't think of the names of them now. And Janet Weiss' voice on "We Can't Help You," makes that probably my favorite song on the album.

Photo booth Pub Crawl

Photobooth
Originally uploaded by iamcootis

Went out on a photo booth pub crawl last night. We stopped off at all the bars that had photo booths and did all kinds of random pictures. I won for nudity because as you can sort of see I have a picture of my butt there. I had to pixel it out because I don't want a lot of perverts looking at my bum.

AMD starts lay-offs

Story

I know a couple people who work here, but I don't know if they were laid off or not.

1,2,3,4 Feist is such a bore

Feist
Originally uploaded by speedye

Went to Stubb's to watch Feist last night. And she has become very popular because...... The fact that she can have a sold out show completely baffles me. She should be playing in a coffee shop in front of ten of her friends. I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only person bored to tears because everyone around me seemed to be enjoying their own little conversations, not paying any attention to the music. She definitely needs to wrap up this solo thing and head back to Broken Social Scene. If anyone is interested in a listenable, female, singer-songwriter check out Maria Taylor.

At least I won't have to waste my time with this

ACL lineup

Hopefully Beck, David Byrne and Conor Oberst will have an after-show I can attend. I don't know how they can seriously put The Mars Volta as one of the headlining bands. I practically had to force someone to take those tickets off my hands last week. There are about 12 bands on the list that I kinda, sorta want to see, but it won't be the end of the world if I don't. I'm sure they'll all be coming back to Austin sometime soon anyway.